The Golden Age of Porn refers to a brief modern period in the history of pornography, approximately from the late-sixties to the early-to-mid-1980s. The period is idealized as a time in history where difficult to treat or untreatable STDs had not achieved wide public notice and birth control and abortion permitted sex for pleasure without worries about unwanted pregnancies. This freedom was ostensibly reflected in the pornography industry, with adult movies and magazines approaching the mainstream and becoming increasingly visible.

The golden age was also typified by interactions with the contemporaneous second wave of feminism. These were radical and cultural feminists allied with the religious right in attacking pornography, while other feminists were more concerned with ideas of sexual liberation and freedom from government intrusion into the growing industry. The origins of the Golden Age are typically associated with the massive success of the movies Deep Throat and Behind the Green Door, which were both released in 1972, and launched the "Porno chic" boom.

These two were the first hardcore porn films to reach a mass mixed-sex audience, and both received positive reviews in mainstream media. These movies saw the blossoming of pornography in the mainstream consciousness, whereby drive-in theatres would take out full page newspaper ads to promote the latest adult features. Porn films started being shown in mainstream public theaters, and thus were accepted as suitable for public consumption, or at least tolerated.

Debbie Does Dallas (1978) is also regarded as one of the most important releases during the period. Hyapatia Lee was one of the most prolific pornographic actresses of the ages latter period.

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